The kids at Rock Hill's Independent Elementary School start their day by jumping around the classroom. It sounds like a great way to start the day, and it might become more prevalent as school try to incorporate more physical activity into their curriculums. According to this, South Carolina is leading the way by implementing a required 90-minutes of PE per week in elementary schools, plus 60 minutes of PE education each week.

It sounds like a great idea to encourage more activity, but 90 minutes a week doesn't seem like much -- that's only three 30-minute sessions a week. I could be wrong, but I thought we did an hour of gym class a day when I was a youngster. We needed it -- kids have lots of energy to burn, especially after sitting in a classroom all day.

Critics argue that too much physical activity at school means less time can be devoted to more important subjects like Math and English. I disagree. I think physical activity is one of the most important things you can teach children, especially in light of the obesity epidemic. After all, what's more important than your health? Just ask someone who is suffering from an obesity-related medical condition like heart disease whether they'd rather have learned about long division or the importance of getting fit and eating right -- I think you'll find that a pen and paper doesn't mean much to someone who is fighting for their life.

What do you think?